Collapsible box, case, or crate



R. H. ROBERTS.

COLLAPSIBLE Box, CASE, 0R CRATE.

APFLICAIION FILED SEPT.' 24, 1918. I

jfaelld July 20, 1920.

2 SHEEIS-SHEE I.

E6 FIG. a;

R. H'. ROBERTS.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX, CASE, 0R CRATE.

APPLlcArloN FILED SEPT. 24, 191B.

` 1 ,347,230. Patented July 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

w F151. 7 y E7 f NICHARDHENRY ROBERTS, OF HENDERSON, ,AUOKLANn NEWZEALAND, AssIGNOR YTo `Jenner NICHOL KINGsWELL, or ONE TREE HILL,AUCKL'AND, NEW ZEALAND,

TRUSTEE FOR v:l-lNGrLiil jBRACE COLLAPSIBLE 'BOX SYNDICATE.

COLLAPSIBLE IBOX, CASE, ORURATE.

Specification of Lettersvlatent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

'Aliplicationled September 24, 1918. KSerial No. 255,503.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RICHARD HENRY ROB- nnrs, a citizen Othe'Dominion ofNew Zealand, and residingat Farmley jTyas, Te

Atatu Road, Henderson, Auckland, in Ithe Provincial Districty ofAncklanchinthe Dominion of'New'Zealand, have invented certainnew anduseful :Improvements in Collapsible Boxes, Cases, or Crates, of which`the following isa specification.

This invention comprises braces pivoted toithe lid and'bottom or ends ofa collapsible box or the like, so 'that when the box is assembled thebraces extend diagonally acrossthefccrnersof the sides and around theends, and whenthelid, sides, ends and bottom ofathebox areifolded thesaine are seciirelyaheld together by the said braces in a Vpackage' Vof:minimum size.

lThe invention also comprises improvements in the details otconstructionand arrangement orn parts -which -willv be hereinafterdescribed.

In the drawings herewith', Figure l, is a perspective view, Fig. 2, vaside elevation, Fig3 an end elevation, Fig. t, a cross sectionalelevation, and Fig. 5 a sectional plan of a box embodyingatheinvention,Fig. G, is a side elevation showingI the {box partly folded, Fig. 7, isa side elevation, and Fig. 8, an end elevation of the-box folded, Fig.9, is a cross sectional elevation ot the box, Fig. l0, is a perspectiveview of a fastener and Fig. 1l, is a perspective view of a modified formof fastener, Fig. l2, is a sectional elevation of a detail ofconstruction.

The braces 2O are pivoted to the bottom 2l, and when the box isassembled the said braces extend diagonally across the lower corners ofthe sides 22 and 23 and aronnd the ends 24; and 25 of the box.

The braces 26 are pivoted to the lid 27 and extend diagonally across theupper corners ot the said sides and around the said ends.

The braces 2O are adapted to be retained by plates 29 in grooves 28formed across the ends 24 and 25.

The braces 26 are adapted to be retained in grooves 30 by the upperpart. of the plates 29, which are adapted to spring ontward to allow thebraces to be passed into the grooves 30. y

Fig. 10 shows an ordinary turn button .falling inward.

3l :for `holding the braces in their grooves, and Fig. ll shows a `plate32 slidable on a pin 33 for the same purpose. The ends 24: and 25 abutagainst the ends of the sides 22 and 23 and prevent the said ends vfromOther suitable means for 'holding the Ybraces .in position may be used.

The braces may be pivoted by bending their ends 3lata right angle andinserting the said len d in `holesmade inthe lid bottom or ends as shownin-Fig. 9, or the braces may'have ends 35 held in grooves 36 formed inbattens 37 securedto the bottom y lid andv ends, the terminations V38 ofthe ends meeting at the centralpart ofl the bottom, lid or ends of thebox and being bent .upward into a slot 39, whereby the samearerretained, or the braces may be made endless and beretained by thesaid grooves 36.

The ends 24 and 25have saw cutszlO which 75 .when theparts ot the boxlare assembled engage metal strips 42 vlixed to the bottom 2l, or thesaid ends may have tongues la formed along their bottom edges, the saidtongues being yengaged by grooves or slots 45 formed in;the bottom 23,see Fig. l2.

`To foldthe parts of the case together the braces 26 are released fromthe grooves 30,

the sides 22 and 23 are removed by drawing the same upward, and the end24 is raised pivoting On braces 20 and turned inward as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 2, the end 25 is similarly raised and turned inward, thesides 22 and 23 are laid upon the bottom 2l, and the end 25 is passedbelow the end 24 and laid upon the said sides as shown in Fig. 6.

The end 24 is then laid upon the said sides, the lid 27 is laid upon thesaid ends, and the braces 2G are made to engage grooves 413 formedacross the bottom 2l, all as shown in Figs. 7 and S.

The invention has been described herein as applied to a box, but thesame may with equal facility be applied to cases or crates for carryingany articles and produce where a oldable box may be required.

The box is quite rigid even after the lid 27 has been removed, so thatthere is no difficulty in packing the same with produce or articles.

In the drawings a single brace is shown at each end of the lid andbottom but extra braces may be used as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.Y Y

Vhat I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is l. A collapsible box having a bottom, detachable sides andends, a removable cover, lower pivotedl braces extending from the bottomvdiagonally across the sides and horizontally across the ends, upperdiagonal braces pivoted to the cover and passing diagonally across thesides and horizontally across the ends When the box is erected, means onthe box ends for retaining said upper braces When the box is erected andmeans Lon the bottom for engaging the upper braces and holding the partsin the collapsed position.

2. A collapsible-box having a bottom,` reiovable ends mounted on. thebottom, strips on said bottom for engaging saw-cuts in the said ends,removable sides mounted be- Y Vtween the ends, braces pivoted to thebot- Y grooves in the ends for engaging said tom and extendingdiagonally across the sides and horizontally Y across the ends,

braces, upper diagonal braces pivoted to the cover and passingdiagonallyv across the sides and horizontally across the ends When theVbox is erected, grooves and retaining vmeans' on the box ends forretaining the said upper braces when the box is erected and means on thebottom for engaging the upper bracesand holding the parts of the box Ltogether when in the collapsed position.

3. A collapsible box having a bottom, removable ends mounted on thebottom, strips on said bottom forV engaging savvcuts in the said ends,side slots in the said ends, removable sides engaging said slots,

braces pivoted to the bottom and extending diagonally across thesidesand horizontally across the ends when the box is erected, grooves in theendsV for engaging said braces, diagonal upper Vbraces pivoted to thesides of the cover and extending diagonally across the sides andhorizontally across the ends when the box is erected, retaining deviceson the box ends for engaging saidnpper braces, and means on the boxbottom 'for engaging the upper 'braces and holding the parts togetherwhen in the collapsed position. Y f

4. A collapsible boxhaving vcollapsible sides and ends, a flat bottom,diagonal braces pivoted to the bottom, a cover, diagonal braces `pivotedto theV cover, Aretaining Ydevices on thebox ends for engaging all thesaid braces when the box is erectedand means Von the'underside of thebox bottom for engaging the latter braces when the box is collapsed.

A collapsible vbox having vcollapsible sides and ends, aflat bottom,diagonal braces pivotcd to therbottorm, a cover, diagonal bracesrpivotedto the sides of thel cover and. adapted to encircle one edge of theerected box and to encircle the collapsed parts and hold same togetherand means on the ends and bottom `for engaging the said braces Wlienlthebox is erected and when it` Ais collapsed. A

In testimony 'whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two Witnesses.

RICHARD HENRY ROBERTS.

Witnesses W.V MCCONNELL, D. E. RArCoN.

